Volume LIV Number 1 January-February 2021 Paideia Graduate Elected to U.S. Senate

Capital Campaign Update Paideia alumnus Jon Ossoff ’05 was elected as a U.S. Senator from Georgia With all of the changes we have been adjusting to this in the January 5, 2021 runoff race. Jon school year, the resilience of the faculty and students attended Paideia from seventh to twelfth has been truly inspiring. In the background, many are grade. He attended Georgetown University steadily working on the campaign that we launched in and the London School of Economics. Jon January of 2020. The largest component of the Paid- previously ran for Congress in 2017, where eia@50 Capital Campaign is providing new and im- he lost in the runoff. He is married to Alisha John Ramspott/Flick/creative commons proved space to allow the ingenuity of our faculty and Kramer ’08, an Emory gynecology and our students to continue to thrive. We asked elementary obstetrics physician. teacher David Millians to share why he was an early and generous supporter of the Paideia@50 Capital Campaign:

“I give to Paideia because I want future students Jon Ossoff and families to benefit in the many ways I and my im- mediate loved ones have done. Paideia has given me lessons in knowledge and skills, values and habits, men- tors, life-long friendships, and a supportive and intel- ligent community in times good and bad.

“I give to Paideia because I am a teacher at Paideia, and the 10- and 11-year-olds I teach — past, present, and future — should have the space, tools, and pro- grams that help them flourish in all of their best possible ways and be their best selves. A school is one of the greatest creations of civilization, and Paideia is an ex- traordinary school.”

Thank you to the parents, teachers, and friends who have supported the campaign so far. With your help, we have raised $16.8 million and have reached 100 percent board participation. We are still working steadily to reach our $25 million goal. Gifts have come from 42 of the 50 states, and over 1,044 faculty members, alumni and friends have participated. Across campus and across the country, people are paying it forward for the next generation of Paideia students. We will continue work- ing toward the campaign goal and if you haven’t made a pledge, we hope you will soon! If you’d like to know more, please contact one of the campaign co-chairs, Louisa D’Antignac and Scott Schnell, or Melissa Walden in the development office. For more informa- Jon and his wife Alisha Kramer ’08 attended President Biden’s inauguration before tion, visit paideia50.org. Jon was sworn into office. COMMUNITY

New Faculty and Staff Paideia Farms Sows Seeds of Service with Alexander Little has joined the urban ag- Community Program riculture staff as a farmer educator. Alexander In January, the Paideia urban is graduate of Fort Valley State University. He agriculture program hosted a previously worked with the Food Well Alli- small group of Burundi farmers ance. He is the CEO of the Community Herd from local non-profit Global LLC. He also has served as the official farrier Growers Network on the school of the Georgia Steeple Chase. farm as part of urban ag’s Meghan Murphy has joined the morning community seed sowing proj- half day teaching staff. She is a graduate of ect. Kelly Douglas, a devel- Emory University and has worked with chil- opment associate, assisted the dren as an education coordinator at Zoo Atlanta program with obtaining grants and as a camp counselor. to cover the costs of seed sow- ing and transplant production in the heated greenhouse. High School Knitting “This project provides our Club Creates Items to high school students opportuni- ties to grow and learn along Donate with diverse groups from local What began as a short-term class in 2019 farms, community gardens and with the goal of knitting and crocheting for a school gardens around Atlanta,” purpose, now is a high school club that carries said Tania Herbert, urban ag- out this mission. riculture coordinator. Aklima Ali, a high school science teacher, is In addition to the Burundi the sponsor of the club, which has specialized farmers, the urban ag program in infinity scarves and hats and baby blankets hosted trainees from Gangsters and hats. The group itself received donated To Growers, an Atlanta group materials including yarns, knitting needles and that provides work opportunities crochet hooks after reaching out to the commu- for at-risk and formerly incar- nity. Last year, the short-term class worked on cerated youth in underserved shawls, scarves and hats and donated 35 items communities. The Paideia farm to Lost & Found LGBTQ+ youths. also hosted a group of student farmers from the Thomasville Heights farm, which Pai- Currently, about four students are making deia students help farm. baby blankets for donation to “Embrace” (A program promoting maternal health connected to Friends of Refugees in Clarkston). Another Paideia Students Selected for charity which Aklima hopes to help is Second Student Bar of Georgia Life, which benefits animal rescues. With the club since it started are Kaiya Three Paideia high school Ciho, Allie Schroeder, Sean Zheng, and students have been admitted Owen Vaccaro. Club leaders are seniors Mi- to the Student Bar of Georgia. gnonne Breaux and Catherine London, who Anna Claire Shuman ’21, are working on baby blankets. Aklima said Jacob Schnell ’22 and Rohan that being able to give someone a handmade Chanani ’23 were admitted product that can warm them in the winter of- after attending the competi- Shuman Chanani Schnell fers a wonderful feeling of giving back. Also, tive Georgia Bar Association’s any student who completes an item can submit High School Law Academy, whose faculty is made up of attorneys and judges from a request for service hours towards their high across Georgia. The Academy provides pre-Mock Trial season training for students. school graduation credit. Jacob was admitted with honors. About 20 students are admitted annually.

2 | The Paideia Newsletter • January -February 2021 COMMUNITY ALUMNI NEWS Alumni news compiled by Sadie Burbank ’08, Alumni Relations Coordinator Science Olympiad Team First in A/AA Division • Bill King ’03 was named president & CEO of the Downtown Raleigh Alliance in Raleigh, N.C. He has been on the forefront of helping small The Paideia high school Science Olympiad team fin- businesses manage through 2020 with nearly $400,000 in direct grants, ished first in A/AA at the Brookwood Invitational Tour- expanded outdoor dining programs, and public art projects to keep nament. The Paideia team finished 13th overall. This was downtown afloat. After several years in D.C., he completed a master’s the team’s third team win this school year. Members of degree in urban planning from UNC-Chapel Hill in 2014 and got mar- the team competing at the Brookwood tournament are: ried in 2018 with over a dozen Paideia alums present from the class of Shelby Pullen, Sarah Schapiro, Javier Pardo, Rohan 2003. He and his wife, Jenny, are expecting their first child this spring. Chanani, Sarah Espinosa, Ethan Castellino, Sean • Kyle Davis ’08 married Meredith Loretta of McLean, Va., August Zheng, Rakibul Chowdhury, Phillip Salzinger, Cecilia 29 surrounded by their close family and wedding party in a micro- Pardo, Shyam Tridandapani, Leo Sullivan and Cath- ceremony at the Carlyle House in Old Town Alexandria, Va. Meredith erine London. This was the team’s third win this school is a securities associate at WilmerHale in D.C. and Kyle is the head of year. Congratulations to all. corporate development at a software company. They reside in Washing- ton, D.C., with their rescue Beagle-Chihuahua mix, Beaux. • Carly Berlin ’14 began working as the Gulf Coast correspondent for King Family Shares Southerly magazine in April. She was recently awarded a grant from Experiences in King Day the Pulitzer Center to help continue her coverage of communities in southwest Louisiana who are recovering from multiple hurricanes dur- Conversation ing the pandemic. The Paideia community got a very special kick off to • Alex Gazmararian ’15 says after a year working as the research di- the observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Members rector at the Policy Resolution Group in Washington, D.C., “I’ve start- of the King family, Martin Luther King III, his spouse ed my Ph.D. in politics at Princeton University, where I will conduct Arndrea and their daughter Yolanda ’26 took part in research on international relations.” conversation hosted by Oman Frame, diversity, equity • Ava Mohiuddin ’15 is currently in her second year at UGA’s College and inclusion coordinator, Paul Bianchi, head of school of Veterinary Medicine. and Nisha Simama, multicultural coordinator. The Kings spoke about their involvement in human and civil rights movements and the role of service in the observance of the day honoring Martin’s father Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. A panel of Paideia students, Kolette Pridgeon ’28, Ryan Dong ’25, Justin Griggs ’23 and Shelby Pullen ’21, asked the family questions. Kolette asked how younger students can get engaged in social justice. Yolanda responded there are many ways to express involvement and urged younger students to use their talents in arts as a way to draw attention to issues. “If you are good at music sing a song, or write a poem. Sending a letter to a newspaper can be part of advocat- Every gift you make supports financial aid at Paideia. The 2021 Alumni ing,” she said. Fund, chaired by Jermaine Smith ’00, kicked off January 10. As part of In response to Ryan’s question about how biases can the Paideia@50 Capital Campaign, the 2021 Alumni Fund and a new en- be changed, Martin responded that diversity training can dowed fund called the Education Opportunity Fund designed specifically play a part in bringing about change. “When we real- to engage alumni through a challenge grant, are two great ways to continue ize that every culture brings something to the table … it your support of the school’s financial aid program. Currently there are 156 enables us to see the dignity and worth of every human students who receive financial aid at the school and a successful Alumni being.” Fund helps to ensure that the school can continue to offer support next year. Shelby asked what was the best way to be an ally in the This new endowment fund helps to ensure that financial aid willremain a fight for racial justice. Arndrea advised, “Be aware, reach priority for generations to come. This challenge is only open to alumni, so out and educate those like yourself. Sometimes it’s easier help us reach the next $50,000 round today! Please visit www.paideia50. to hear a message from a familiar source.” org or contact [email protected] for more information.

January-February 2021 • The Paideia Newsletter | 3 Non-Profit Org. THE PAIDEIA SCHOOL U.S. Postage 1509 Ponce de Leon Avenue PAID Atlanta, Georgia 30307 Decatur, Georgia Permit No. 281 THE PAIDEIA SCHOOL is nonsectarian, serving families with children ages three through 18. Paideia does not dis- criminate in employment or in admissions. It actively seeks racial, cultural, and economic diversity in its student body. The ancient Greek word Paideia conveys the concept of a child’s total education: intellectual, artistic, and social. The Paideia School Newsletter is published 10 times a year. The deadline for the newsletter is the 1st of the preceding month. Send all correspondence to Jennifer Hill, Editor, at Paideia School, 1509 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30307. Phone number is 404/377-3491, ext. 339; e-mail address is [email protected]. For informa- tion about sports schedules and upcoming events visit our web site at www.paideiaschool.org

Dream Forward and Support the Annual Auction

Register to bid in our annual On- It’s more important than ever to come line Auction from March 13-20. Bid together as a community to celebrate our online on amazing vacation homes, school, our teachers and staff, and each food, drink, weekend getaways, pampering other. What better way than to host an On- and more from the comfort of home! line Auction and raise funds for our Finan- cial Aid program! Join us virtually on Saturday, March Look for more information to come You’re invited to the Paideia School 20 at 7 p.m., as we host a Live on how you can donate auction items. In Auction 2021, March 13-20, a benefit for Stream Auction Party with our the meantime, mark your calendars to get financial aid that will inspire you to Dream very own head of school Paul ready to celebrate with us in March! Forward! We’ve all been dreaming of the Bianchi and celebrated auctioneer Dean better days that lay ahead, so let’s come Crownover. Take part in a pre-show cock- Would you like to volunteer with the together to support our financial aid pro- tail lesson, bid on incredible Live Auction Auction Committee? We could use your gram. There are two ways to participate: items, donate during our Fund-A-Need, help! Contact [email protected] be entertained by cameos from students and teachers. It’s a night you won’t want to miss!